December 26, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

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Security Challenges Await Somalia After Historic Year

25 Dec- Source: VOA-587 Words
In the last 12 months, Somalia has approved a new constitution, selected a new parliament, president and prime minister, making way for the first stable government in over 20 years. In August, members of Somalia’s new parliament took the oath of office in a parking lot outside the Mogadishu airport. The selection of the 275-seat body represented one of the most substantial achievements in ending the country’s eight-year political transition and ushering in a new, representative government.
The political progress has inspired confidence in the international community. Iran reopened its embassy in Somalia this year, Britain appointed an ambassador and the United Nations says it will move more of its staff to Mogadishu. Turkish Airlines began regular flights to the Somalia capital in May as Ankara leads the charge to boost investment in the country.

Key Headlines

President Hassan returns back home after regional trip (Radio Mogadihsu/SONNA/SNTV)
Somali President visits Uganda (New Vision)
Police deployed in some parts of Mogadishu ( Radio Bar-kulan)
Turkey sends 27 tons of relief material to Somalia (Sundayszaman)
Al Shabaab regrouping in Lower Shabelle: Minister ( Radio Bar-kulan)
Somali finance minister: ’’Gov’t needs a lot of money to fight al Shabaab’’ (Shabelle)
Assessing Somali President Mohamoud’s first 100 days in office (Standard)
Radio Bar-kulan now transmits to Kismayo ( Radio Bar-kulan)
Ship crew held for 1000 days rescued off coast of Yemen (CNN)
Parliament session debates gov’t Budget (Radio Kulmiye)
Al Shabaab fighters surrender to Somali government in Bay region (Mareeg Online)
National Security minister visits Afgoye Town (Radio Kulmiye)
USA to send troops to Somalia (Radio Risaala)
US military to start training Kenyan troops (Daily Nation)
Al Shabaab requests financial support from Banadir businessmen (Radio Dalsan)

SOMALI MEDIA

President Hassan returns back home after regional trip

25 Dec- Source: Radio Mogadihsu/SONNA/SNTV- 181 words
President of the Somali Federal Government, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud together with high level delegation who was on tour in Kenya and Uganda for the past five days jetted back home on Tuesday.

In his trip, President Hassan led delegation on Monday to visit Kampala, the capital of Uganda were warmly welcomed at Entebbe International airport by President Yoweri Museveni and other Ugandan officials.

Both presidents had talks on the security, politics and strengthening ties between the two countries. President Hassan also met with Somali community in Kampala and in particular the students learning universities there, urging them to take part in rebuilding their country and join the national army back home.

Police deployed in some parts of Mogadishu

25 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan-107 words
Somali police have been deployed in some parts of Mogadishu to stop mortar attacks believed to be launched from those areas.
General Sharif Shekhuna Maye, the commander of Somali police force said the cops were deployed to Daynile and Yaqshid districts of Mogadishu.
The police chief added that these areas are suspected to be a hiding base for militants who launch night mortar attacks to Villa Somalia, the Presidential palace.

Al Shabaab fighters surrender to Somali government in Bay region

25 Dec- Source: Shabele/Mareeg Online- 108 words
A group of youths formerly fighting along side the militant group al Shabaab deserted the group and surrendered to the Somali government officials in Bay region, according to a top Somali military official there.
Colonel Mahad Abdirahman, the Somali army commander in Bay who spoke to Shabelle said that members of al Shabaab have recently been defecting to the government side in Bay region but the commander did not specify the exact number of the fighters.
The commander said the defections came after Somali national army scaled up their security operations against the group in Bay region which forced many members of to have a second thought.

National Security minister visits Afgoye Town

25 Dec- Source: Radio Kulmiye- 158 words
Somalia’s minister of internal affairs and national security Abdikarim Hussein Guled Afgoye town, in Lower Shabelle region where he held closed door meetings with the regional authorities.
Sources say the meeting was aimed at finding solution to the insecurity that has plagued the road that connects Afgoye to Marka town.
Other issues discussed included concerns over the hardship facing the communities in Afgoye town and its environs.

USA to send troops to Somalia

24 Dec- Source: Radio Risaala- 151 words
United States of America has unveiled a plan to send troops to several African countries in a bid to expand its military capability across the continent.
The Head of the US Africa Command (Africom), General Carter Ham revealed that American Special units will be deployed in countries including Somalia so as to boost the fight against al Qaeda, al Shabaab and their associates in the region.
He said the troops will train and equip the local forces and will only take part in combat operations at the request of the African countries concerned.
Furthermore, drones will be deployed alongside these forces especially during combat missions.
On the other hand, Gen Carter said that the US will increase its military aid to Somalia’s neighboring countries like Kenya and Uganda so as to boost the war against al Shabaab.
He said that this move will also speed up Somalia’s recovery and road to peace and stability.

Al Shabaab regrouping in Lower Shabelle: Minister

25 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 90 words
Somalia’s internal security minister, Abdikarin Hussein Guled said Monday that al Shabaab fighters are regrouping in parts of Lower Shabelle region.
The Monday session of the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon was mainly discussed about the al Shabaab threat, the minister told reporters.
The cabinet decided to thwart the militant by sending troops there and beefing up security of Mogadishu.
Lower Shabelle region borders Mogadishu.
The cabinet also discussed about the Tropical Cyclone reported to have hit parts of coastal Somalia, urging the residents there to be cautious.

Somali finance minister: ’’Gov’t needs a lot of money to fight al Shabaab’’

25 Dec- Source: Shabelle- 178 words
Somalia’s finance minister Mohamed Hassan Suleyman, who addressed a session of the parliament said that the government needs money allocated in the operations against al Shabaab including money to finance the restoration of law and order in the areas liberated from al Shabaab.
The minister said that the budget, which the government has prepared, gives priority to the logistics and training of the Somali national so as their operations against al Shabaab becomes effective.
Guled also hinted that a lot of money is spent on the Somali diplomatic missions in the world, pointing out that the number of Somali embassies and consulates stand 49 now.

Radio Bar-kulan now transmits to Kismayo

24 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan-115 words
Residents in Kismayo city can now listen to Radio Bar-kulan via 92 MHz FM frequency.
This is the 6th city in Somalia that Radio Bar-kulan reached.
Radio Bar-kulan director, Eng. Abdirahman Omar Osman alias Yarisow congratulated the residents of Kismayo on the transmission, saying Bar-kulan is an impartial public radio.
“This is the first time a public radio is established in Kismayo. We promise to air accurate news and beneficial programs to the residents.” Yarisow said.
The director added that special programs will soon be aired for the residents of Kismayo and surrounding areas.
“To the people of Kismayo, I say Bar-kulan is your station, enjoy it and tell us what you think.” Yarisow said.

Al Shabaab requests financial support from Banadir businessmen

24 Dec- Source: Radio Dalsan- 162 words
The newly appointed representative of al Shabaab in Banadir region has appealed to the people to offer financial support to the group.
Al Shabaab’s representative in Banadir region Abu Jabal revealed details of the group’s operations in Mogadishu specially mortar attacks on presidential palacem Villa Somalia

“In recent days, we carried out operations in Banadir region, we attacked different places including the state house and other places in Mogadishu,” Abu Jabal told pro-al Shabaab radio.
The representative appealed to the business people to support the group financially in order to fight against the allied forces of Somali government and AMISOM as he noted that their soldiers still operates in Mogadishu.
“We are requesting from Mogadishu residents to financially support the mujahideens and Allah will support you and bless your wealth,” Abu Jabal said.

Parliament session debates gov’t Budget

24 Dec- Source: Radio Kulmiye- 290 words
Somali lawmakers engaged in violent shouting at a session they at parliament house or popularly known as “House of the People”. The meeting was intended to pass the 2013 budget proposal which the government will work with on.

Some of the MPs who spoke at the session requested that the voting for the budget be postponed. They have condemned the salaries mentioned in the budget. The salaries are those of the government offices and workers.

Lawmaker Isak Mohamed Mohamoud opposed the budget proposal, saying that the budget was mishandled with no rights for the military forces. Instead, he has requested that the expenses intended for the government offices be reduced so that the forces receive better remuneration.

Minister of finance of the government of Somalia, Mr. Mohamoud Hassan Suleiman however said the salaries of the military forces will be increased gradually.

The lawmakers had a lengthy discussion on the paragraph of the budget that concentrates the opening of 30 embassies. However, the session turned into heated debate which forced the chair, Deputy Speaker, Jailani Nuur Iirkar to adjourn.

REGIONAL MEDIA

US military to start training Kenyan troops

25 Dec- Source: Daily Nation- 156 words
The US Army will soon start training Kenyan troops as part of a major expansion of American military capabilities in Africa.
Teams of trainers from the US Army’s 2nd Brigade, also known as the Dagger Brigade, will be deployed to as many as 35 countries in Africa in the next two months, Associated Press reports.
The team heading to Kenya will likely consist of fewer than 200 troops.
The units are not permitted to conduct combat operations without approval from the Pentagon. But the US Africa Command (Africom) recently set up a rapid-response force capable of direct military intervention.

Somali President visits Uganda

25 Dec- Source: New Vision- 130 words
The Somali President Hassan Shiekh Mohamud visited Uganda to hold talks with his counterpart President Yoweri Museveni.
The Somali leader arrived in Uganda from Kenya where he was visiting with a delegation of Somali government officials.
This is the second time President Mohamud is visiting Uganda since he was elected this year.

Assessing Somali President Mohamoud’s first 100 days in office

23 Dec- Source: Standard- 331 words
December 20, 2012, marked 100 days since the election of Somalia’s new president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on September 10. The election of the relatively unknown civil society advocate was received with overwhelming enthusiasm and proclamations of a “new dawn.”

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Security Challenges Await Somalia After Historic Year

PLA Navy to hold escort warship open day activities

25 Dec- Source: peopledaily -222 words

The Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will organize some warships,which carried out escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somalicoast, to hold open day activities in their named cities around the fourth anniversary ofthe escort that falls on December 26, 2012, the reporter learnt from a relateddepartment under the PLA Navy.

Ship crew held for 1,000 days rescued off coast of Yemen

25 Dec- Source: CNN- 403 words
They were trapped at sea for 1,000 days, held on their own ship by Somali pirates off the coast of Yemen.
A petition pushing for their release described hostages huddled in tight spaces aboard the MV Iceberg 1, given only rice and water to survive.
Conditions were so harsh on the ship that one member of the 24-person crew reportedly committed suicide by jumping overboard. Another was killed by pirates.
Over the weekend, troops from the Puntland Maritime Police Force rescued the 22 hostages remaining on the Panama-flagged vessel, ending the longest time anyone has been held hostage by pirates, according to Michael Howlett, deputy director of the International Maritime Bureau.

Turkey sends 27 tons of relief material to Somalia

24 Dec- Source: Sundayszaman- 182 words
As diplomatic and political relations deepen between countries, Turkey has stepped up efforts in bid to contribute to reconstruction of the war-torn Somalia and sent 27 tonnes of aid to the East African country on Tuesday.
As part of cooperation between two countries, several agencies and ministries in Turkish side take part in this process to facilitate Turkey’s efforts to rebuild Somalia’s institutions and infrastructure.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

Hypothetical assumption of what if Somalia remained. Peaceful vs the civil war…intellectual debate

24 Dec- Source: SomaliaOnline-165 Words
This is my theory…If Somalia remained it would’ve went through political exchanges. In 1990 Somalia’s literacy rate was around 30%. There were just handful universities and it would’ve only have grown just few more universities. It would’ve had command economy. It would’ve had stunted economic growth. We would’ve had lack of exposure to the world because the Somali passport would’ve been limited.

What has the civil war brought us. We got at least 200k respected college’s education. With another 1.1 million literate folks in the diaspora. Even Islaamaha (women) can read at least and understand languages like English, Swedish, Dutch, Norwegian and etc. We got highly educated young people who are ready to inject new economical ideas. We got the next fb (Facebook) inventor. We got the next instagram inventor. We can travel throughout the world to bring new products to the country. We also have economist, political scientists, entertainers, leaders, and etc.

Therefore…I ask that u compare and contrast.. Was the civil war a blessing in disguise